Recap of Supernatural
Season 6, Episode 17
My Heart Will Go On
Written by Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder.
Directed by Philip Sgriccia.
Air Date: April 15, 2011.
The Winchesters hop into their classic Ford Mustang to investigate mysterious deaths that are only connected by the ship upon which the victims' ancestors immigrated to America—a liner called the RMS Titanic. Meanwhile, Bobby and his wife Ellen have a talk...
While researching the Titanic, Sam notices that the first mate, who narrowly prevented the ship from hitting an iceberg, not only goes by the rather suspicious name "I.P. Freely" but also looks exactly like Balthazar. The Winchesters summon the angel and demand answers. Balthazar tells them that, seeing as there are no rules since they stopped the Apocalypse, and he hated that stupid movie so much, he went back in time and saved the ship. He rescued lots of people and prevented Céline Dion's rise to fame. Everyone wins.
Except now someone is trying to set things straight by killing all the passengers' descendants, which amounts to about 50,000 people. A little research at Bobby's reveals that they are up against one of the three Fates, Atropos, from Greek mythology. The easiest way to stop her would be to make Balthazar go back and re-sink the boat, restoring the original timeline. But since Ellen and Jo are alive in this universe, nobody wants to do that—especially because Ellen is the only thing keeping Bobby from complete breakdown following Rufus's death. Sam and Dean attempt to catch Atropos by tailing a known target, but that fails when he is hit by a bus. Then Atropos nearly kills them in a giant explosion. Castiel zaps them out of the building at the last second.
According to Cas, Fate is incredibly pissed at Sam and Dean, since screwing over the Apocalypse rendered her obsolete. She'll kill them unless they kill her first. Knowing this, the Winchesters try to lure her by "tempting fate" as they walk down the street. Just as a heavy object is about to fall and crush them, time freezes. Fate steps out, and she and Castiel have a little chat. She calls him out, revealing that he ordered Balthazar to go back in time and save the ship in order to create 50,000 new souls for his war efforts. She then warns that she or one of her sisters will kill Sam and Dean unless he restores the original timeline. So Castiel sends Balthazar back again, and the Titanic goes down like it was supposed to.
The Winchesters wake up in the Impala, with Céline Dion's greatest hit blasting over the radio. Both of them think they had a very odd shared dream, until Cas shows up and explains most of what happened. Dean asks if Balthazar really messed with history just because he hated a movie. Looking extremely shifty, Cas assures Dean that he did. The Winchesters go up to Bobby's house to find him sleeping, and resolve not to tell him how happy he almost was.
Body Count:
For this episode = Fate kills several people, but the timeline is reset at the end, so no one dies.For the series so far = At least 461 humans (of which 6 were witches), 77 demons, 34 ghosts, 26 vampires, 19 zombies, 14 gods, 11 angels, 9 hellhounds, 7 skinwalkers, 6 changelings, 5 shapeshifters, 4 ghouls, 3 djinn, 2 Arachnes, 2 dogs, 2 werewolves, 1 crocotta, 1 dragon, 1 fairy, 1 Khan worm, 1 lamia, 1 okami, 1 rakshasa, 1 rawhead, 1 reaper, 1 rugaru, 1 shtriga, 1 siren, 1 wendigo, 1 whore of Babylon, and 1 wraith.
Tropes
- Alternate History: Thanks to Balthazar stopping the Titanic from sinking. Among other things, Ellen and Jo are still alive, Cuba's open to tourism and is apparently capitalistic, Celine Dion is a destitute lounge singer somewhere in Quebec, and Impalas were never made. When Sam and Dean find out about the alteration, Sam semi-lampshades the Butterfly of Doom trope (and Dean tells him not to make "Kutcher references").
- Aggressive Negotiations: Dean suggests that they "talk" to Fate using a gun.
- Appeal to Obscurity: "What movie?" "Exactly!"
- Ambulance Chaser: Shawn Russo.
- Back from the Dead: Ellen and Jo, to the viewers. In-universe, saving the Titanic somehow meant the Harvelles never actually died and so aren't resurrected.
- Bad Ass Boast: "Do you really want to test me?"
- Big Sister Instinct: Weaponised by Atropos to force Castiel to agree to her terms. If he kills her, then her sisters will kill Sam and Dean.Atropos: I've got two sisters out there. They're bigger, in every sense of the word. Kill me... Sam and Dean are target one. For simple vengeance. You're not fighting a war or anything, right?
You can watch them every millisecond of every day. Because maybe you've heard... fate strikes when you least expect it. - Blatant Lies:Dean: So, wait. Did...Balthazar really, uh, unravel the sweater over a chick flick?Castiel: [pause] Yes. Absolutely. That's what he did.
- Can't You Read the Sign?: A sign forbidding buskers, dogs and skateboarding can be seen when the Winchesters are walking down the street, alarmed over skateboarders zooming past them, barking dogs and street performers juggling lethal weaponry.
- Cat Scare: Everything after Sam and Dean realize that Fate is gunning for them.
- Clock Roaches: Fate's role in the story.
- Cosmic Retcon: Balthazar went back in time to stop the Titanic from sinking, but is then forced to undo that, bringing an end to the alternate timeline.
- Deadpan Snarker: Cas is starting to figure it out.Sam: What did we do?Castiel: Nothing of import—just the tiny matter of averting the Apocalypse and rendering her obsolete. I think maybe she's a little irritated about that.
- Death by Looking Up: This nearly happens to Sam and Dean before a time freeze and the the Reset Button being pressed saves them.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Bobby is hitting the sauce harder than usual in the aftermath of Rufus's death.
- Dude, Not Funny!: "Yeah, Dean, I'm pretty sure six seconds is too soon."
- Everything Trying to Kill You: Due to Cas angering the Fates, Sam and Dean end up facing this.
- For Want Of A Nail: Balthazar saving the Titanic resulted in a lot of changes.
- Hesitation Equals Dishonesty: Castiel is still getting the hang of this whole "deception" thing. Though he has gotten a lot better at the sarcasm thing.
- Homoerotic Subtext: It's just become text, courtesy of Balthazar.You have me confused with the other angel—you know, the one in the dirty trench coat who's in love with you.
- Hot Librarian: After catching a glimpse of Atropos, Sam describes her as "like a librarian".Dean: Your kind of librarian or my kind of librarian?Sam: Well, she was wearing clothes, if that's what you mean.
- In Spite of a Nail: The people who would have died/never existed are killed by one of the Fates. As Balthazar observes, his actions only changed "the small details" anyway—there are still archangels and the Apocalypse was still averted.
- Is That a Threat?: When Dean tries to warn the lawyer he'll become the next victim. It's not actually, but it ends up sounding like one anyway because the lawyer is a Muggle.
- It's a Wonderful Plot: Though the alternate timeline is arguably better than the original.
- It's What I Do: Fate is pissed that she no longer has a purpose now that Cas has thrown away the rule book.
- Killer Outfit: The travel agent is strangled by her scarf getting caught in the copier.
- Look Both Ways: The last Titanic descendant the brothers try to save ends up getting hit by a bus and dies anyway.
- A Million Is a Statistic: Bobby says the obvious solution is to make Balthazar go back in time and re-sink the Titanic, since never being born isn't the same as, and is probably better than, dying a bloody and improbable death. He changes his mind when he's told Ellen will die.
- Nail 'Em: Invoked when the brothers stare nervously at a construction worker who points a malfunctioning nail gun at them while hitting it to make it work. Nothing happens.
- Out-of-Character Alert: Dean beating Sam at Rock–Paper–Scissors.
- Bobby's sarcastic comment "What are you, my wife?" in response to Sam and Dean hovering over him. This is definitely an odd thing for him to say given the established attachment he has to his deceased wife in the normal timeline.
- Punny Name: First Mate I.P. Freely? Really, Balthazar?
- Red String of Fate: Turns out it's a Gold Thread of Fate.
- Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: The boys have one thanks to Castiel.
- Rube Goldberg Hates Your Guts: Fate is literally out to get the Winchesters.
- Shown Their Work: Using a piece of tile or terra cotta to test the streak color is actually a valid, relatively accurate way of identifying minerals.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: To the viewers, a world where the Titanic never sunk is a major thing. In this new timeline, without that sinking, the Titanic becomes just another once-great ocean liner later overwhelmed by more advanced ships and no one remembers it. Thus, when the brothers try to figure what's happening, the mention of the Titanic means absolutely nothing to them.Dean: What's special about the boat?
Ellen: Nothing. It was a boat. It did what boats do.
Dean: What was it called?
Ellen: The Titanic. Did you ever hear of it? - Take That!: To Titanic (1997), and specifically Céline Dion, Billy Zane and Kate Winslet. Balthazar is also annoyed that there's still an Ashton Kutcher in the new timeline.
- Tempting Fate: Invoked.
- There Are No Coincidences: "Accidents don't just happen accidentally. [Sam gives him a look] You know what I mean."
- Time Stands Still: For angels and Fate, who uses this power to set up her accidents.
- Titled After the Song: Played With. It is titled after the Céline Dion song, but that song doesn't exist in the altered timeline. It's back when the timeline is restored.
- Thwarted Coup de Grâce: Castiel stops Fate just as she's about to kill the Winchesters, then stops Balthazar just before he kills Fate.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Fate to Castiel.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Sorry, Bobby. Your new wife is dead due to unpredictable repercussions of time travel, but if it's any consolation, you won't be able to remember being in a relationship with her, so you can't fully grasp how miserable your life is without her.
- You Can't Fight Fate: Well, you can literally, but figuratively no.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: The boys' reaction to seeing who the First Mate of the Titanic was. Happens a second time after Russo gets hit by a bus moments after they'd supposedly saved his life. Then for a Rule of Three when they realize Fate is out to get them and come across some street performers juggling hatchets.
